Of course! The Butter Won’t melt in the Mouth

Good morning! People indulge in completely bizarre (odd) strategies, in order to sell their products. Like the one, where even clothes are being offered on installments, à la Yankees… Incredible, isn’t it? Shouldn’t there be an end to this exploitation of human greed and weakness.

But then why should we be the interfering busybodies (individuals who interfere in other people’s affairs), some want to sell (no matter what it takes) and some want to buy (at any cost), so let’s just rest our case and move on…

Why do I keep talking about stuff that doesn’t concern me? Well! Guess I’m like this only…

For today’s session, I have some interesting phrases for you, let’s have a look:

To rest the case– It’s a legal phrase which means, I’m done with my argument, that is, my argument is over.

Example: She tried to pacify her parents, but when they continued being hysterical, she decided to rest her case and went off to sleep.

Tongue in cheek– This means to say something (with a hidden smile) that is not to be taken seriously, to say something and mean the other.

Example: Tongue in cheek, she asked him for his results; even though she knew that he had flunked (failed).

Hare brained– The term means ‘foolish’. Earlier, it used be spelt as ‘hair brained’, which meant to have a brain of the size of a hair (obviously, a derogatory [insulting] term). However, over a period of time the spelling was replaced by ‘hare brained’.

Example: His hare brained efforts at bringing about peace between the warring parties always landed him up in trouble.

Butter won’t melt in the mouth– To get away by saying nasty things by maintaining an innocent look or to have a look of a saint and tongue of an evil person.

Example: She was all smiles and praises when she saw the neighbour’s son; it was like the butter won’t melt in her mouth. But the moment the boy was out of sight, she started bad mouthing him.

I’m like this only– This expression is used so very often. It’s is wrong, guys. It’s a direct translation of ‘main aisi hi hun or hun aavi chun…’ which is alright in Hindi, Gujarati or the other regional languages, but the phrase does not exist in English. Don’t use it.